TheBalochistan Liberation Army (BLA;Balochi:بلۏچستان آجوییء لشکر,romanized: Balochistan Ajooyi Lashkar) is aBalochethnonationalistmilitant organization based in theBalochistan region ofAfghanistan.[26][47] Operating primarily from regions across southern Afghanistan and southeastern Iran, the BLA perpetrates attacks in neighbouringPakistan'sBalochistan province, which it seeks to remove from Pakistani sovereignty. It frequently targets civilians, foreign nationals,Pakistani soldiers and policemen, and has carried out multiple massacres targeting ethnicPunjabis.[48][49][50][51]
Since 2025, Pakistan uses the name "Fitna al-Hindustan" to refer to the Balochistan Liberation Army, which it accuses of being backed by India.[59]
History
The BLA was founded in 2000, although some media and analysts speculate that the group is a resurgence of prior Baloch insurgencies, specifically the Independent Balochistan Movement of 1973 to 1977.[60] According to some sources, two formerKGB agentscode-named "Misha" and "Sasha" were among the BLA's chief architects. According to them, the BLA was built around theBaloch Student Organization (BSO). The BLA disappeared following thewithdrawal of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan as theUSSR withdrew funding.[61][62][63]
In 2004, the BLA began a violent struggle against Pakistan for the separation of Balochistan from Pakistan, conducting terror attacks against the Pakistani military as well as non-Balochi minorities within Balochistan.[66][67][26]
Pakistan designated the Balochistan Liberation Army as a terrorist organization on 7 April 2006 after the group repeatedly attacked security personnel.[68] On 17 July 2006, theBritish government followed suit, listing the BLA as a "proscribed group" based on theTerrorism Act 2000.[69] However, the U.K. harboured Hyrbyair Marri, the suspected leader of BLA, as a refugee, despite Pakistan's protest.[70] The group's actions were described asterrorism by theUnited States Department of State.[71]
On 15 April 2009, Baloch activistBrahamdagh Khan Bugti (accused by the Pakistani government of being a BLA leader), called for Baloch to kill non-Baloch residing in Balochistan, including civilians. Targeted attacks againstPunjabi residents began soon after, causing about 500 deaths. The BLA leaders later claimed responsibility for inciting the attacks.[26] The BLA targeted non-Baloch from various ethnic backgrounds, includingPashtuns,Sindhis, andPunjabis, whom the BLA consider outsiders.[72][73][74][75][76]
On 16 January 2024, Irancarried out missile strikes on Pakistan's Balochistan province, specifically in Koh-e-Sabz inPanjgur District, targetingJaish ul-Adl fighters' hideouts in Pakistan.[81][82][83] According to Jaish ul-Adl, the strikes had killed 2 and injured 4 family members of its fighters.[83][84] These strikes ignited the2024 Iran–Pakistan conflict.[84] On 18 January 2024, Pakistancarried out strikes on Baloch separatist targets inSarvan in Iran'sSistan and Baluchestan province in retaliation. ThePakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said hideouts used by the BLA and theBLF were successfully struck and destroyed in the operation.[85][86][87] Such Pakistani strikes were the first known instances of attacks on Iranian soil since the end of theIran–Iraq War.[88] Iran confirmed this by stating that the attacks killed and injured at least 9 foreign nationals living on its soil.[89] Both the BLA and BLF also confirmed this by claiming that family members of their fighters were killed.[90][91]
The Baloch Liberation Army and Baloch Liberation Front acknowledged the deaths of family members their fighters in the Iran–Pakistan clashes in 2024 and "vowed revenge" against the Pakistani state.[91]
In 2017, BLA expelled its commanders,Aslam Baloch andBashir Zaib Baloch, over disciplinary issues, particularly Aslam's unauthorized visit to India for medical treatment.[93][31][94] This internal rift escalated into a major split, with BLA spokesman Azad Baloch publicly disowning both leaders.[95][96] Subsequently, the group appointed Jeeyand Baloch as its new spokesman, whileBashir Zaib went on to lead a separate BLA faction. The split resulted in two factions: BLA–Azad and BLA–Jeeyand.[93]
Recruitment
The BLA has used social media to recruit members from the Baloch youth, developing an intelligentsia supportive of Baloch separatism, particularly in major urban centers.[97]
Funding
David Wright-Neville wrote that besides Pakistan, some Western observers claimed thatIndia funds the BLA.[98] In August 2013, U.S. Special RepresentativeJames Dobbins said:
"The dominant infiltration of militants is from Pakistan into Afghanistan, but we recognize that there is some infiltration of hostile militants from the other direction [India]. So Pakistan's concerns aren't groundless. They are simply, in our judgment, somewhat exaggerated."[99][100]
Following arrest of an alleged BLA terrorist namely Brohi, according toCTD Karachi officials, Brohi confessed to collecting millions of rupees throughextortion and ransom after joining the BLA.[101]
Yunas Samad reported thatHyrbyair Marri[102] has been the group's leader since 2007. However, in an interview in 2015, Marri denied having any contact with the group.[103] Hyrbyair's brother,Balach, led the group from 2000 until he was killed in 2007.[104]
It is also reported that BLA was actively involved in kidnapping forransom activities.[105]
According to theMinistry of Petroleum, the BLA and BLF were directly involved in smugglingIranian oil. By 2024, 2.8 billion liters of smuggled oil—worth 227 billion rupees in government revenue—entered Pakistan; smuggling was temporarily depressed duringAnwaar ul Haq Kakar'scaretaker government from 2023 to 2024.[106]
Foreign involvement
India
The Hindu reported that BLA commanders had sought medical treatment in India's hospitals using disguises and fake identities.[31] One militant commander in charge ofKhuzdar lived inDelhi for at least six months in 2017 while he underwent treatment for kidney ailments.[31] TheExpress Tribune reported another commander,Aslam Baloch, received treatment at aNew Delhi hospital.[31][94]
Pakistan has often accused the BLA of acting as an Indianproxy, alleging that Indian consulates inKandahar andJalalabad, Afghanistan, provided arms, training, and financial aid.[107] Baloch separatistHyrbyair Marri denied the group had links with India. He also claimed that he is not a BLA member.[103] India has also denied helping BLA.[108]
Afghanistan
TheIslamic Republic of Afghanistan acknowledged its covert support for BLA. After the death of Aslam Baloch, also known as Achu, inKandahar, Afghan officials stated that Afghan police chiefAbdul Raziq Achakzai had housed Aslam Baloch and other separatists inKandahar for years.[11]Tolonews reported that Aslam Baloch had resided in Afghanistan since 2005.[109] BLA leaderBalach Marri was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.[110][111]
On 14 December 2006, BLA militants launched six rockets at a paramilitary camp in Balochistan'sKohlu District that then PresidentPervez Musharraf was visiting. Though Musharraf's life was not endangered, the Pakistani government labelled the attack an attempt on his life and initiated a sweeping army operation.[118]
On 15 April 2009, Baloch activistBrahamdagh Khan Bugti (accused by the Pakistani government of being a BLA leader), called for Baloch to kill non-Baloch residing in Balochistan, including civilians. Targeted attacks againstPunjabi residents began soon after, causing about 500 deaths. BLA leaders later claimed responsibility for inciting the attacks.[26] BLA targeted non-Baloch from various ethnic backgrounds, includingPashtuns,Sindhis, andPunjabis, whom BLA considered outsiders.[72][73][74][75][76]
On 14 June 2009, masked gunmen shot dead Anwar Baig, a school teacher inKalat. Baig had opposed recitation of the Baloch anthem in schools. The killing was part of a larger campaign against educators who were seen to be sympathetic to the Pakistani state.[119] On 30 July, BLA militantskidnapped 19 Pakistani police inSui, killed one and injured 16. Over the course of three weeks all but one of the kidnapped officers were killed by their captors.[120]
In 2010, Nazima Talib, a female assistant professor at theUniversity of Balochistan inQuetta was murdered, for which BLA later claimed responsibility. The reason for the murder, according to BLA, was due the deaths of two Baloch women inQuetta andPasni and for the arrest of several Baloch women by Pakistan's police.[121][122]
In 2010, BLA attackedschools, teachers, and students in the province.[123]
On 14 August 2010, BLA militants killed six laborers and wounded three others on their way home from work in the Khilji area of Quetta.[124]
2011–2020
On 21 November 2011, BLA terrorists attacked government security personnel who were guarding a mine in the northernMusakhel district, killing 14 and wounding 10. The BLA claimed to have killed 40.[125] On 31 December, the BLA claimed responsibility for the suicide bomb targeting a Baloch politician, Naseer Mengal, at his home in Quetta. The suicide attack killed 13 people and injured 30.[24][126]
On 26 May 2012, BLA took responsibility for the assassination of Muzafar Hussain Jamali,principal of a private school inKharan.[127] Jamali was travelling with his family when they were attacked. Jamali and his eight year old nephew died immediately, while his two daughters were injured.[128] On 12 July, BLA took responsibility for abducting and killing 7 miners and 1 doctor. The miners were abducted in Soorang area on 7 July. The miners were later killed and their bullet ridden bodies were found.[129][130] The victims werePashtuns.Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and miner labour union staged protest outsideBalochistan High Court (BHC).[131]
On 6 August 2013, BLA took responsibility for abducting and killing 11 passengers from a bus nearMachh Town. The militants were disguised as security personnel.[132] On 16 August, BLA claimed responsibility for attackingJaffar Express near Machh. The attack claimed lives of two people and wounded ten.[132] TheQuaid-e-Azam Residency, a historical residence in Balochistan whereMuhammad Ali Jinnah spent the last days of his life, was attacked by rockets on 15 June. The building was nearly demolished. BLA militants claimed responsibility. The militants removed theflag of Pakistan from the monument site, replacing it with aBLA flag.[133] Reconstruction work was completed and the rehabilitatedZiarat Residency opened on 14 August 2014.[134]
On 3 November 2014, BLA attackedUnited Baloch Army (UBA). Commander Ali Sher of UBA was killed in the attack. Four other UBA members were captured by BLA.[135]
On 30 June 2015, BLA clashed with UBA inDera Bugti. The attack resulted in death of 20 militants on both sides.[136]
On 7 October 2016, BLA claimed responsibility for two blasts targetingJaffar Express. The attack claimed lives of six people and wounded eighteen.[137][138]
On 23 November 2018, BLA claimed responsibility for killing four at theChinese Consulate in Karachi.[141][142] The attackers were killed by police during the attack.[143] Later on, the mastermind of the attack, Aslam Baloch Achu, was killed along with five other commanders inKandahar, Afghanistan.[4]
Chinese nationals were targeted during a 2019 attack on thePearl-Continental Hotel.[114]: 60 On 11 May 2019, BLA claimed responsibility for an attack on the Zaver Pearl-Continental Hotel in the port city ofGwadar.[144] Opposition to the construction of theGwadar Port was claimed to be the main reason of the attack by BLA.[114]: 60
On 29 June 2020, four BLA militants attempted to attack and hold thePakistan Stock Exchange attack inKarachi as hostage but were killed by security forces.[145] On 15 October, at least fourteen security personnel were killed after a convoy of state-runOil & Gas Development Company (OGDCL) was attacked.[146][147] On 27 December, seven soldiers were killed in an attack on aFrontier Corps (FC) Balochistan post inHarnai district of Balochistan.[148]
2021–present
2021
On 7 March 2021, two navy personnel were killed in an attack, while en route toGanz fromJiwani, Balochistan.[149]
On 24 March, a bomb blast left at least three dead and another 13 injured.[150][151]
On 28 May BLA accepted the responsibility of targeting a water supply vehicle of the Pakistan Army near a post at Nisau Dao Shah area ofKohlu with a landmine attack, which destroyed the vehicle and 4 personnel.
On 31 May 10Frontier Corps soldiers were killed and 12 injured in two attacks, an IED attack inTurbat and an attack on a checkpoint nearQuetta. The attack was claimed by BLA.[152][153]
On 9 June, BLA accepted responsibility for an attack on the Pakistani army camp in the Karakdan area ofBolan Pass, in which two were killed and two others were critically wounded.[154]
On 14 June, 4 Pakistani soldiers were killed in an IED attack at Marget Mines.[155]
On 25 June, five soldiers from Frontier Corps, Balochistan, were killed after terrorists targeted a patrolling party inSibi district's Sangan area.[157]
On 1 July, an explosion took place near a moving Frontier Corps (FC) vehicle, At least six people were injured.[158]
On 15 July, two soldiers were killed in an IED blast during an operation inPasni.[159][160]
On 20 August, two children were killed and three wounded in an attack targeting Chinese nationals inGwadar, Pakistan.[161]
On 26 September a statue of Pakistan's founderMohammad Ali Jinnah was destroyed by Baloch militants in the coastal city ofGwadar.
On 11 October, Shahid Zehri, a 35-year-old Pakistani journalist was killed in an attack claimed by BLA.[162]
2022
On 25–26 January 2022, an attack on a security checkpoint inKech Province led to the death of 10 Pakistani soldiers.[163] On 2 February, nine militants and 12 soldiers were killed atPanjgur andNushki districts. The BLA claimed to have killed more than 100 soldiers at two military camps, a claim rejected byPakistani government.[164][165] On 2 March, three people including a senior police officer inQuetta were killed by a roadside bomb. The BLA claimed responsibility.[166]
On 26 April, the BLA claimed responsibility fora suicide bombing in which four people, including three teachers of Chinese origin atKarachi University, were killed. It further said that this was the first such bombing by a female member of the group (specificallyShari Baloch, a 30-year old science teacher and mother of two).[167][168][169]
2023
On 13 August 2023, two BLA militants attacked a convoy of Chinese engineers inGwadar. A spokesman for the BLA claimed 4 Chinese nationals and 9 Pakistani soldiers were killed with numerous others injured in the attack while the two BLA militants committed suicide. However, these claims went unconfirmed and officials claimed that no Pakistani or Chinese casualties were reported but that the BLA ambush was repulsed with two militants killed. After the attack, security restrictions were placed in Gwadar by Pakistani security forces.[170][171][172]
2024
On 30 January 2024, at least six BLA fighters and four security officials were killed in an overnight attack in the city ofMach, south of Balochistan's capital, Quetta.[173]
On 26 August 2024, at least 74 people, including 14 soldiers were killed in aseries of attacks in Balochistan. The Liberation Army claimed responsibility.[174][175]
The BLA claimed responsibility for anattack on the airport motorway at Jinnah International Airport on October 6, 2024, in which at least ten people were injured and two Chinese nationals were killed.[176][177]
On November 20, the Apex Committee announced military operation against BLA.[183][184][185]
2025
On 11 March 2025, the BLA militantshijacked a Jaffar Express passenger train carrying hundreds of people fromQuetta toPeshawar.[186][187] After a 30-hour operation by the Pakistani army, it announced that the forces had successfully freed passengers held hostage by the rebel group. Pakistani officials said that 21 civilians and four security personnel lost their lives during the operation, and additionally a total of 33 militants of Balochistan Liberation Army, including suicide bombers, were killed by the security forces.[188][189]
In April 2025, the BLA carried out multiple attacks across Balochistan, Pakistan, beginning with a roadside bomb attack that killed three security personnel and injured 18 others in Mastung District on April 15,[190] an IED attack targeting a bomb disposal squad in Kech District on April 17 that killed one soldier and injured two others,[191] a grenade attack on security personnel near a checkpoint in Turbat, Kech District, on April 17,[191] the capture of the Gwandh Saren Levies post in the Hoshab area of Kech District on April 20,[192] and a major IED attack against a military convoy in the Margat area of Quetta on April 25 that resulted in the deaths of 10 soldiers, including senior officers.[193]
On 10 April 2025, an explosion in Kandahar’s Aino Mina neighbourhood reportedly killed 12 members of Pakistani militant groups, including theBaloch Liberation Army (BLA) andTehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and wounded five others, according to local sources. The blast occurred as militants were leaving a gathering, but Taliban officials denied any airstrike, attributing the explosion to old or decaying munitions stored near the anti-narcotics department. Residents reported hearing a powerful blast followed by gunfire, and Taliban emergency crews responded to contain the incident. While casualties among Taliban guards were acknowledged, the exact number was not disclosed, and Taliban spokespeople maintained that no foreign attack had taken place.[194]
On 1 February 2025, a major incident took place in which the BLA fighters attacked military posts and government buildings and captured the village ofMangochar inKalat district, Balochistan. The group was alleged to have installed checkpoints and allegedly killed a dozen of Pakistan Soldiers.[195][196] The attackers left the area before the arrival of security forces. In response, law enforcement agencies launched a search operation to apprehend those involved, and traffic on the highway was restored later that night.[197][198][199]
A day after the incident, two other attacks occurred inMangochar against theBaloch levies. In the first incident, unidentified armed assailants on motorcycles opened fire killing Levies personnel Haq Nawaz on the spot. In a separate incident, a powerful explosion damaged the National Highway near Rahimabad.[200]
On 11 July 2025, BLA militants launched Operation Baam against Pakistan army in which they claimed that 18 Pakistani soldiers were killed by the BLA militants including many kidnapping too (allegedly).[201] The victims of this BLA terror attack inZhob, Balochistan, were laid to rest in various cities across Punjab. Militants forcibly removed Punjabi passengers from a bus, verified their identities, and executed them. The bodies were returned to families in cities likeDunyapur,Faisalabad,Lahore, and others, with funerals held under tight security.[202]
On 15 July 2025, a bus carrying Pakistan Army personnel in theQuetta and Kalak regions was bombed by BLA militants. According to BLA 29 soldiers including a senior officer were allegedly killed in the attack. The explosion was carried out by the help ofIEDs.[203][better source needed]
On 29 December 2025, authorities inPakistan said a girl was stopped during a routine police inspection of buses while traveling southwesternBalochistan toKarachi. Officials said she was detained in connection with a suspectedsuicide bomb plot and alleged that she had been targeted by the Baloch Liberation Army. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan said the group allegedly told her an attack would bring her “honor and recognition” within the Baloch community.[204]
2026
On 31 January 2026, in a series of coordinated attacks across multiple districts inBalochistan, BLA militants engaged in armed assaults andsuicide bombings targeting security installations, police stations, a high-security prison, and civilian areas. BLA stated that the attacks were in retaliation for security force actions against the murder of their members.
The BLA labelled the attacks "Operation Herof 2.0", as a follow up to theAugust 2024 Balochistan attacks (which it labels Operation Herof), and described the operations as simultaneous strikes on military and administrative targets, with videos released by the group showing female fighters participating. In response to BLA's "Operation Herof 2.0", Pakistani Security Forces launched "Operation Radd ul Fitna-1". Pakistani officials reported that security forces had thwarted most attempts, engaging in clearance operations that lasted until 5 February.
^abcdef"Balochistan Liberation Army – Mapping Militant Organizations".web.stanford.edu.Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved19 December 2016.Some human rights organizations accuse the BLA of ethnic cleansing because on 15 April 2009 during an interview on AAJ TV, alleged leader Brahamdagh Khan Bugti urged separatist to kill any non-native Balochi residing in Balochistan which allegedly led to the deaths of 500 Non-Baloch in Balochistan.
^"Afghanistan Keeps US-Pakistan In Interdependency Alive".The Citizen. 5 July 2019.Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved6 July 2019.The BLA is based in Afghanistan and has been waging a violent armed struggle against Pakistan for the past decade and a half upholding the right of self-determination of the Baloch people and demanding the separation of Balochistan province from Pakistan, apart from being involved in ethnic-cleansing of non-Baloch minorities in Balochistan
^"The Balochistan Liberation Army and insurgency in Pakistan's Balochistan Province". Intelligence Fusion. Retrieved10 January 2024.The numerical strength of the BLA is not clear, with estimates claiming that in the early 2000s after the group formed, there were approximately 6,000 fighters in the BLA. More recent estimates have suggested the total number of fighters is closer to 600.
^abcCurtis, Simon; Klaus, Ian (2024).The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization, and China's Search for a New International Order. New Haven and London:Yale University Press.ISBN9780300266900.
Pakistan
India(alleged by Pakistan, but denied by India)[a]
Afghanistan(2002–2021)[11]
Pakistani Taliban[45]
Balochistan Liberation Front
China[46]
Iran
United Kingdom
United States
United Nations
European Union
